I handle exactly as ChrisV does, but I’ll add one other comment. I have zero interest in the server touching me. I find it odd at best and sometimes almost creepy. It would only serve to cause me to reduce a tip, never to raise it.

I generally give 20%, and that’s for most servers. I had a couple of really excellent ones recently, and we tipped significanly more (these were moderately-priced places so the tip wasn’t that huge to begin with.) If the service is kinda bad, I lower it to 15%. And, once (many years ago), I was so disgusted with my server’s refusal to do anything about some bad soda (I was out with my kids and bought a pitcher) that I tipped a dollar instead of the $5 I was planning on. I figured the difference paid for the soda (which was undrinkable.) I let the place know my unhappiness and the reason for the poor tip. And, of course, I never returned there again. Who’s going to go back to a place where you stiffed them on the tip? Who knows what they might have done to my food after that!

Yeah, I always just tip 20%. If 20% comes to $22.50 then I’d give $22 for bad service and $23 for good service, that is as much as I vary outside of an extreme circumstance of absolutely terrible service.

Bad service = about 15%, good service 15-22%, excellent service -25% + horriblr service rannges from 10% down to 25 cents. All tips are based on service and not on the quality of the food which the waitstaff can’t control. And as mentioned once above, please bring me my check when we are obvioulsy done eating. That pet peeve can seriously affect a tip.

I am a chronic over tipper, mainly because I’m a sucker and an apologist for other people. If the server is young and rude, I think to myself: “She was rude and inattentive, but she’s probably really tired after going to school all day and then coming here. She probably has an exam tomorrow too. And it’s really busy here, the table next to me is full of jerks, and I bet her boss is mean. I’ll give her 20%.”

Regardless, I wouldn’t want to be touched by a server either. It actually bugs me when they tell me their name, because I will never remember it, and actually feel bad about it the next time they come to the table.

I like to eat out, but I’m not a “foodie.” To me, average food and great service is often more important than a spectacular meal and poor service. I am a generous tipper if the service is great but I don’t hesitate to leave a poor tip for poor service. I am also happy to call great service or sloppy to the attention of a manager.
A couple dining out at a decent place with a bottle of wine and coffee/dessert will easily spend $150-$200. If the evening is “damaged” by bad service, why would the guest choose to leave $30 on the table (or credit card) for the server?
I have never waited tables at a restaurant and I understand that it can be a challenging job. However, the slow, inattentive server who takes a careless attitude to the customer just got a standard 20% and thus fugures that their level of “service” was at least standard. Yes, I know that some jerks leave $10 on a $250 but most don’t and a small tip should be a wake up call.

I am a waiter, among other things (student, runner, coffee fiend…), and I agree with all those who insist on leaving at least 20% for all service. 30% is standard for good service, in my book. The way I see it – most of those in the service industry are trying desperately to pay for school, or family or more, you know, beer – all of which I’m happy to support.

Secondly, when I eat out, I expect my server to not be so audacious as to think that I want him or her touching me. I am never that presumptuous, and I expect others not to be. They don’t know me that well, and even if they did, it’s uncalled for. Bring the food, keep it cute, and get your hands off of me – it’s only common courtesy. Plus, if they get caught looking down my date’s shirt, it’s over. Unless they know me that well, in which case I’ll probably just high five them later. But really, don’t touch your customers – it’s presumptuous.

M & K – I agree: if you touch me, the tip is going to drop radically unless there’s already an established rapport between us. I will always start my tip at 20%, and you either wax or wane from there – it depends on the nature and quality of everything (did you dribble wine on the table and not clean it? did you not apologize for the burnt appetizer? do you seem pissed off to be there?). I try to not hold the faults of the kitchen or management against the waitstaff. I admit, I have left bad tips for ignorant recommendations without recompense, cold entrees and poor hygiene (simple but often overlooked…how about a nice mint?). Concerning “tip jars” at drive-thrus and on counters (such as at Uncommon Grounds) I might occasionally (rarely) throw my loose change in it, but never a bill. Since you are not working as true waitstaff, presumably you are being paid whatever hourly wage prevails at your place of employ; the contents of the tip jar should not be relied upon as a guarantee to supplement your income.

Tipping as a percent of the total bill is as sound a concept as property tax. The higher the value of the meal the more you are expected to pay although the service is the same for a steak dinner as it is a dish of pasta. Also, if you decide to just have tap water where do you cover that in your tip? It’s the same effort as a glass of soda or beer but most people don’t consider it in the tip. I guess I’m just more understanding that most waitstaff are usually struggling students, etc so I don’t leave less than 20% and never less than $5 (otherwise breakfast servers get the short end!). But to answer the question, if you provide lousy service you’ll get your 20% but I’ll think twice about going to that restaurant again so owners and managers beware, it is up to you to train the staff and the restaurant suffers more than the waiter/waitress if you don’t make service a priority.

I have always had some issue with tips as a percentage. Last week I went to a diner for dinner with my son. I had a salad, he had a burger. The tab was $14. The server was great. She was quick, attentive and friendly. She asked my son about school and sports and checked on us each time she went by, to refill drinks or see how we were doing. I left her a $20, so she got a $6 tip. (Equal to 30%)
Two weeks before, I went out with 2 girl friends for dinner. The average entree was $16 or so. We ordered a bottle of wine and 2 cocktails. Our menus were down on the table for 10 minutes before she returned to take any food orders. The server was slow, got the first cocktail wrong and “forgot” our coffee. No apologies were offered for her errors. One of our meals was cold (the plate was cold so the server had to know it) and the server acted like it was a chore to get it heated. Our tab was just over $125 and we left $30. Now, I realize that this girl did alot more for us (appetizer, a dessert, drinks) but she didn’t do it very well. She got nearly 30% for what I felt was indifferent service.